Improvement in shirts



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS LAMBERT, OF PEEKSKILL, NElV YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHIRTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,028, dated April 22, 1862.

T0 all whom, 'it muy concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS S. LAMBERT, of Peekskill, lVestchester county, New York State, have invented a new and useful linproveinent in Shirts; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

A represents a shirt-body and its sleeves. They may be made of any ordinary material or form used in such garments. The bosom B is also inserted in the ordinary manner for two-thirds the distance up its length. From the point Qc upward the bosom and shirt-body are finished independently of each other, the body with a band at the neck, as usual, es;A cept that the band passes only about threefifths around the neck. The bosom also is hollowed to fit thc neck and inserted in a band which is nearly equal to half the circuniference of the neck, so that when the bosom is in place its band overlaps that of the shirt-body on both sides. The bosom is also, ol course, to be enough wider than the openin made in the sllirt-bod y to overlap its edges from one to two inches.

Ii] is au, elastic band or cord, which, by two buttons or oiher nieanswone at each end-is attached to thebosom-band, and, being passed over the shirt-band S l, serves to keep the bosom in place, and will be Yfound to be usually the only fasteningoi the shirt and bosom needed at the neck.

E is another elastic band, which, if necessary, may be used to keep the shirt-band in its proper place. 1f used, it should be passed through the button-holes l-I, in order that it may rest against the outside of the bosom band. Peradventure either elastic band should tend to ride above the shirt and bosom bands, against which it rests. It can be kept in place by beingI passed through the two but ton-holes H on each side the central one in each band, which is for the purpose of receiving a button to retain in place a collar.

B n represent a stud or button for fastening' a collar to a shirt. If it is desirable to have collars permanently attached to the shirt, they can be stitched to the bosom-band and left open behind, or they can be stitched to the shirt-band and left open in front, and in either case, or in case of being but-toned to either band, the free ends of the collar can be fastened in the ordinary way, or, what is better, a piece of elastic band or cord can be buttoned to each free end of the collar and then carried over to the opposite side of the neck.

The proportionate lengths of the shirt and bosom bands and the elastic bands, and the elasticity of the latter, should be such that they will readily yield to permit the passage of the head and as readily return to the circumference of the neck and retain the parts of the garment to which they are applied in place. For such purposes the elastic band should easily stretch at least twice its length, and should, unstretched, measure about half the circumference of the neck.

that I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A shirt with the bosom detached from the body at both sides a part ot the length downward from the upper extremity of the bosom and opening and closing as a Hap, the shirt body and band being open in front beneath the bosom, the band of the shirt and the band of the bosom, either or both, being kept in place by elastic bands or cords, the whole substantially as set forth.

T. S. LAMBERT.

Witnesses:

J. F. TENNEY, EDM. F. BROWN. 

